Location of Fatty Acid Esters on Tampons and Toxin Inhibiting Efficacy

Abstract

The application of active ingredients, exemplified by GML, to absorbent fibers, such as rayon fibers, used in tampon manufacture at very low levels has been found to maintain efficacy in the inhibition of the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin one (TSST-1) produced by S. aureus without overtly killing the microorganism to achieve the desired reduction while avoiding undesired test results that suggest the presence of “impurities” in some jurisdictions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a) a fibrous absorbent structure comprising multilimbed fibers;   b) a sufficient amount of an active ingredient disposed on the multilimbed fibers which is effective to inhibit the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria when said product is exposed to said bacteria;   c) a cover substantially containing the fibrous absorbent structure, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of:
 i) monoesters of a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol and a fatty acid containing from eight to eighteen carbon atoms and wherein said monoester has at least one hydroxyl group associated with its aliphatic alcohol residue; 
 ii) diesters of a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol and a fatty acid containing from eight to eighteen carbon atoms and wherein said diester has at least one hydroxyl group associated with its aliphatic alcohol residue; and 
 iii) mixtures of said monoesters and diesters; and 
   wherein the active ingredient is present at less than about 0.1 wt-% of the fibrous absorbent structure.   
     
     
         2 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the multilimbed fibers are coated with active ingredient. 
     
     
         3 . The absorbent article of  claim 2 , wherein the fibrous absorbent structure comprises less than about 75 wt-% of the active ingredient-coated multilimbed fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The absorbent article of  claim 3 , wherein the fibrous absorbent structure comprises less than about 50 wt-% of the active ingredient-coated multilimbed fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The absorbent article of  claim 4 , wherein the fibrous absorbent structure comprises less than about 25 wt-% of the active ingredient-coated multilimbed fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present at less than about 0.05 wt-% of the fibrous absorbent structure. 
     
     
         7 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the active ingredient is present at less than about 0.02 wt-% of the fibrous absorbent structure. 
     
     
         8 . The absorbent article of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous absorbent structure contains less than 0.3% ether soluble substances according to the Ether Soluble Substances Test, contains less than 0.7% water soluble substances according to the Water Soluble Substances Test; and passes the Foaming Test. 
     
     
         9 . An absorbent article comprising:
 a) a fibrous absorbent structure comprising multilimbed fibers;   b) a sufficient amount of an active ingredient disposed on fibers of the absorbent structure which is effective to inhibit the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria when said product is exposed to said bacteria;   c) a cover substantially containing the fibrous absorbent structure, wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of:
 i) monoesters of a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol and a fatty acid containing from eight to eighteen carbon atoms and wherein said monoester has at least one hydroxyl group associated with its aliphatic alcohol residue; 
 ii) diesters of a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol and a fatty acid containing from eight to eighteen carbon atoms and wherein said diester has at least one hydroxyl group associated with its aliphatic alcohol residue; and 
 iii) mixtures of said monoesters and diesters; and 
   
       wherein the active ingredient is present at less than about 0.1 wt-% of the fibrous absorbent structure. 
     
     
         10 . The absorbent article of  claim 9 , wherein the fibrous structure further comprises non-limbed fibers and active ingredient is disposed on the non-limbed fibers. 
     
     
         11 . The absorbent article of  claim 9 , wherein the multilimbed fibers are coated with active ingredient.